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HIM Emperor Jonathan I, known as HIH Crown Prince Jonathan before becoming Monarch, is the fourth Emperor of Austenasia and constitutionally-designated Founder of the country. Prime Minister from the Empire of Austenasia's independence in September 2008 to his ascension to the Throne on 20 January 2013, and son of the founding Emperor Terry I, Jonathan I was de jure Heir to the Throne to all three of his predecessors, with the second and third Monarchs becoming Emperors through Acts of Parliament instead of the rules of succession.

The reign of Jonathan I has so far been notable for a huge expansion of the Empire, both in terms of size and population, and the establishment of Christianity as Austenasia's official state religion. Another notable aspect of his reign so far has been the promulgation of numerous comprehensive pieces of legislation in both criminal and civil law, including the monumental Codex Jonathanus. He became the longest-reigning Austenasian Monarch, beating the record of his predecessor, on 22 February 2015.

Early life

Jonathan was born at 12:25 on 13 October 1994 at St. Helier Hospital in Carshalton to the future Austenasian Emperor Terry and Empress Margaret. His sister, the now Crown Princess Caroline, was born on 25 May 1998. He was baptised at Raynes Park Methodist Church on 26 February 1995, which he attended with his mother and sister until mid-2004 when the family started to attend Carshalton Methodist Church instead, which was nearer. The future Emperor went to the nursery at Rushy Meadow Primary School starting in 1998, joining the school proper in September the following year. Jonathan moved house along with his family in January 2004 to the current Imperial Residence.

Jonathan started a large campaign of expansion as Midget Master, but ruled in a different way from Daniel, allowing senior commanders to be involved in decision making and sometimes calling for votes. Although under his reign the Midget Empire expanded enormously, some commanders became disgruntled with his style of ruling, prefering the militaristic rule of Midget Master Daniel to the comparatively democratic and therefore slightly more bureaucratic rule of Midget Master Jonathan. This came to a head in late June 2005, when Thomas, the charismatic and militarily successful commander of the Patioed Pathway, began a rebellion. The former Midget Master Daniel helped Midget Master Jonathan and Commander Thomas to come to a peaceful compromise, thus averting a repeat of the Midget Civil War, and from then on Jonathan and Thomas shared equal power and ruled jointly, although only Jonathan had the title of Midget Master and the right to choose a successor.

In September 2005, another coup was attempted - this ended in another power-sharing compromise, whereby Jonathan and Thomas ruled the Midget Empire as a triumverate with Commander Gregory (a high-ranking founding officer of the Midget Army), although as before, Jonathan remained the only one with the title of Midget Master and the right to choose a successor. Jonathan abdicated this title when he and his two co-rulers left the school in July 2006, leaving it to his sister Caroline. Jonathan then attended Stanley Park High School.

Merger Club

On 4 September 2005, Jonathan founded the Merger Club at Carshalton Methodist Church with his sister Caroline, cousin Timothy, and two friends named Harry and Huw. Comprised entirely of children, this club met most weeks in the church halls while the parents of its members had refreshments after the Sunday service. Other children who would in future become notable individuals in the Carshalton Nations also joined, with the future Lord Marshal William and Prince Joseph both joining in 2006. Although initially very informal (understandably, given the age of its participants) - e.g., attempting one week to pre-emptively "ambush" a child who frequently disrupted their meetings, and treating the acquisition of fruit juice and biscuits from the refreshment tables as their main priority - the Merger Club eventually matured, deciding in October 2007 to adopt philanphropic aims. Through a system of weekly subscriptions by church members, the Merger Club raised £603 for various charities, also hosting a successful quiz night in April 2008.

Jonathan exercised complete control over the Merger Club as Leader, helped by a Deputy and Leadership Team. Although there was originally an office of "Head Guard", this was abolished in February 2008, by which time it was a relic of the time when the club would declare a state of "invasion" when uninvited individuals entered the room being used to meet in. Jonathan kept detailed minutes of each meeting of the Merger Club, which provide a valuable insight into its story as well as a record of how much money was raised for charity. The Merger Club was dissolved by the then Crown Prince Jonathan in August 2009 after ineffective administrative reforms implemented on 18 January earlier that year resulted in inactivity gripping the organisation.

Crown Prince

Early Empire

Jonathan's family founded the Empire of Austenasia by his suggestion on 20 September 2008 after being inspired by the Republic of Molossia, with Jonathan and his father Terry taking the lead. A Declaration of Independence and Constitution were unanimously agreed upon by the family and sent to the local Member of Parliament, the British Prime Minister, and the UK Home Office.

Under the terms of the Declaration of Independence, Jonathan was appointed Prime Minister until 1 January 2009, and Terry was declared Emperor of the new country. Jonathan - now holding the title Crown Prince due to the new status of his father - was also made Representative of Wrythe after an informal election was taken on the same day that Austenasia declared independence.

On 1 January 2009, Crown Prince Jonathan was democratically elected to the offices of both Prime Minister and Representative of Wrythe, with 100% of the vote and a full turn-out. Although he had no competition for either vote, there was the option in both elections for the voters to choose to return to the United Kingdom - an option that was not chosen by anyone.

Crown Prince Jonathan held immense influence during the reign of Terry I, drafting nearly all laws passed and making most executive decisions. Terry I assumed a ceremonial role - although the powers of the Monarch were substantial in theory, they were exercised only on the advice of the Prime Minister. Although Terry was enthusiastic about the idea of his family having its own sovereign state, he saw his role as mostly being to supervise his son's administration of the country, not to get too heavily involved in the day-to-day business himself. While the only Representative, the Crown Prince's single vote in Parliament could decide anything, but the addition of South Kilttown to the Empire in April 2009 brought an end to the paramount leadership of Crown Prince Jonathan. He now had a fellow Representative, and although he still held the deciding vote as Prime Minister, it became convention that both Representatives had to agree for a law to be passed through Parliament.

2010

2010 was a momentous year for the Empire. It began with Crown Prince Jonathan being re-elected as Representative of Wrythe on New Year's Day.

On 15 February 2010, Emperor Terry I announced that he wished to abdicate. As Heir to the Throne, Crown Prince Jonathan was first to have the choice of accepting the Throne and becoming Monarch. However, under the 2008 Constitution the Prime Minister cannot also be Monarch. He chose to decline the opportunity, preferring to be head of government rather than head of state. The Throne thus passed to the Crown Prince's friend and "Supreme Companion": Dark Lord Esmond, 2nd Duke of Highland, SCH (the title "Dark Lord" rather than "Lord" had been given upon bestowment of the office of Duke of Highland to "make it sound better").

The Crown Prince travelled to Sutton the following day to meet Esmond. At roughly 14:40 on 16 February 2010, mere minutes after being informed of the abdication, Emperor Esmond III accepted the Throne. In order to keep the Monarchy as stable as possible, it was decided that the Line of Succession would remain the same. Therefore, Crown Prince Jonathan remained Heir to the Throne, as the former Emperor's son.

Dissatisfaction with Esmond having been placed before her in the Line of Succession led to the then Princess Caroline making a formal claim to the Throne on 3 March 2010. On 7 March, Crown Prince Jonathan attended the Vestry Conference with his sister, a meeting held to try and arrange a compromise for her claim to the Throne, also attended by the then Lord General William. The talks broke down, and the Crown Prince revealed that he had recorded the Lord General stating that he did not think Esmond III should be Emperor.

The Lord General attempted to seize the tape from the Crown Prince and dispose of the evidence, demanding it as Chief Inspector of Police. Crown Prince Jonathan refused to give it to him and removed him from said office in his capacity as Home Secretary. Princess Caroline then said that she would attempt to overthrow Esmond III, and so Crown Prince Jonathan arrested her for high treason. Angry at being deprived of his position as Chief Inspector and in doubt about the moral or legal right of Esmond III to be Monarch, Lord General William announced that he was declaring a state of civil war in Austenasia, and would attempt to overthrow Esmond III to put himself and Caroline in power. Crown Prince Jonathan announced that the Lord General was committing high treason and rebellion, automatically removing him from the post of Representative of South Kilttown.

The then Crown Prince Jonathan announcing the Austenasian Civil War during the March 2010 Prime Minister's Broadcast

Crown Prince Jonathan was appointed the new Minister of Defence by Emperor Esmond III with the passing of Act 116 (Austenasian Civil War). The Crown Prince, as Minister of Defence and Field Marshal, was thus in charge of the entire Austenasian Armed Forces and the Esmondian war effort, leading the recruitment drive for the Austenasian Army and massively increasing its size. He also participated in GUM-mediated peace talks between the Emperor and Princess on 10 March, and arranged two temporary ceasefires, the first lasting 10th-15th and the second 24th-29th March.

On 18 April 2010, the Battle of Carshalton Park took place. The Crown Prince led a very small government force, consisting of only himself and General Sir Ryan Dickinson, against rebel commander William. The Crown Prince's force won, retrieving a stolen bag of equipment and then escorting William out of the park to get treatment after he sustained a nosebleed.

Crown Prince Jonathan was a signatory to the Treaty of Carshalton 2010, which organised the Austenasian Monarchical Referendum of 16 May 2010. He let his vote, for Outcome 1 (the Emperor), be made public. After the Emperor won the Referendum, William was bound by the Treaty of Carshalton to surrender, and Princess Caroline was bound by the same treaty to withdraw her claim to the Throne and renounce all military support for her claim. The Crown Prince wrote up the Treaty of Ruskin Road to end the war, which he signed on 23 May 2010 (it came into force the following day).

The Civil War brought about a decisive change to the location of political power in Austenasia. While Parliament constitutionally remained the supreme authority, more power began to be held by the Monarch, with Esmond III actively wielding those powers which Terry I had exercised only on the advice of the Prime Minister. Nearly all soldiers recruited from the United Kingdom in support of Esmond III attended Stanley Park High School along with the Emperor and Prime Minister, with whom they were friends and classmates - the area in which they often met for what would usually be general social conversation became what was practically a military HQ, with war strategies and diplomatic policies being considered and decided. With most decision making now taking place in this unofficial HQ, the role of the Prime Minister began to decrease - the military officers looked more to Esmond III than Crown Prince Jonathan for leadership, as it was on behalf of his right to the Throne that they had enlisted.

During May 2010, Crown Prince Jonathan became close friends with King Declan I of Moylurg. On 17 May, Crown Prince Jonathan was granted citizenship of Moylurg by the King, and diplomatic relations between Austenasia and Moylurg were formalised on 7 June 2010 when Austenasia extended official diplomatic recognition to Moylurg.

On 1 July 2010, Esmond III gave the Crown Prince the ceremonial title of Caesar, a matter of minutes after he also granted it to Calum of Orly. After Orly was divided into Copan and the Grove, Declan I had Crown Prince Jonathan persuade Calum to appoint Declan I the King of Copan. This he did, and Declan I in turn appointed Jonathan his Viceroy, to rule Copan in the King's absence.

Jonathan met Declan I in person for the first time on 7 August 2010, when he visited Moylurg while taking part in Austenasia's first state visit. Arriving at roughly 10:55, Jonathan and his retinue were shown around some shops in Wilton by the King before the two national leaders went to a nearby clearing by the River Wylye to sign the Treaty of Wilton, creating a military alliance between their two nations. The two leaders met again at Festival Place in Basingstoke on 25 September 2010. Just over three weeks later, on 19 October, Crown Prince Jonathan was made joint King of Moylurg, but was deposed by the kingdom's population on 10 November when Moylurg transitioned into Wilcsland, the loss of his kingly title being compensated with the title Duke of Atlantos. He held the style Imperial and Majestic Highness while King of Moylurg, not wishing to directly assume the style of Majesty due to sensitivities over monarchs and diplomatic rank in the Carshalton Nations during the zenith of Esmond's power.

On 12 November 2010, Emperor Esmond III deposed Calum I from the throne of the Grove and set up a Lord Regency instead, appointing Crown Prince Jonathan as the Grove's new leader. In the continued absence of the King of Copan, Crown Prince Jonathan therefore became the effective absolute monarch of both Orly's successor states.

On 8 December 2010, Esmond III told Jonathan that he intended to imminently transform Austenasia into a “communist dictatorship”. Due to the popularity of Esmond III amongst the Austenasian Army, there was a real risk of a revolution, and so Crown Prince Jonathan secretly enacted a contingency plan in collaboration with King Declan I to remove Esmond III from power. The Crown Prince abdicated from the throne of the Grove, and since he did not choose a successor, King Declan of Copan became Regent of the Grove under the terms of Orly's dissolution, and instantly reunified Orly, declaring himself Tsar of the reformed nation and removing Orly from the suzerainty of Esmond III (Crown Prince Jonathan was appointed Viceroy of Orly, and continued to administer the nation in the name of Declan I until the Liberation of Orly over two years later). This led to Austenasia going to war with Orly, a war orchestrated by Jonathan, who did not take an active role in the fighting. He surrendered Wrythe to the Midget Army on 19 December, and then put through an Act of Parliament that appointed Declan I (who was by this point also Midget Master) the joint Emperor of Austenasia, so as to provide a "counterweight" to Esmond III in an attempt to prevent him from starting a revolution. For the year following this, the official story was that Wrythe had been invaded and forced to appoint Declan I joint Monarch, but on 19 December 2011 the Crown Prince confessed to the deception regarding his role in depriving Esmond III of the ability to abuse his power.

Reign of Declan I

Crown Prince Jonathan publicised the news that Declan I had become joint Emperor, provoking a furious reaction from Esmond III, who declared himself "Premier" of a socialist Austenasia live in the Micropolitan Lounge. Jonathan managed to persuade Esmond to calm down and retract his declaration with the help of Lord Marshal William, who while critical of the Crown Prince for surrendering did not voice any suspicions he may have had that the Fall of Wrythe had been orchestrated.

Despite having surrendered Wrythe to the Midget Army (with most believing that he had been forced to do so), Crown Prince Jonathan was re-elected as Representative of Wrythe under two weeks later, although he did stand down from his position as Minister of Defence. On 3 January 2011, Declan I as Midget Master appointed the Crown Prince the new Lord of Muschamp Alley (a title from the Midget Empire), and gave Imperial Consent to an Act of Parliament that unified both that title and the title Defender of Nibiru with the position of Heir to the Throne.

Two days later, on 5 January, Crown Prince Jonathan attempted to stop another attempted communist revolution by Esmond III by simultaneously attempting to trick him into abdication. Both attempts failed, resulting in a relatively frosty atmosphere between the two leaders at the school-based unofficial “imperial court” for the next few weeks - at one point, Esmond III even tried to arrest the Crown Prince for high treason, but he was pardoned via text by Declan I for any offences committed. On 31 March 2011, the Crown Prince voted for a Vote of No Confidence against Esmond III, which finally deprived him of all powers of the Throne and left Declan I as the only Monarch with any actual powers in Austenasia.

On 20 May 2011, Crown Prince Jonathan met with the local British Member of Parliament, Tom Brake, who contacted the British Foreign Office on Austenasia's behalf to enquire about recognition of the Empire. Although the Foreign Office responded with a confused letter seemingly unaware of where the Empire was located, they failed to reply to any further messages.

On 5 June, Jonathan appointed Lord Marshal William to the position of Acting Prime Minister until 22 June, so that he could concentrate on revising for the large number of GSCE examinations that he was sitting at the time. He gained A*-grades in Religious Studies and Business & Communication Systems, A-grades in English, English Literature, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History and Geography, and a Distinction (the equivalent to an A-grade) in Information and Communication Technology.

The then Crown Prince Jonathan representing the Empire at the 2011 Intermicronational Summit

Jonathan was elected ninth Chairman of the Grand Unified Micronational in December 2011. His term, which lasted until March 2012, was widely hailed as extremely successful, with the GUM successfully implementing a reform of the Constitution by codifying conventions and removing needless bureacratic or defunct features under his tenure. The Crown Prince also oversaw the restoration of activity of the Advancement Council, the creation of a micronational human rights treaty, the establishment of the GUM Lounge and the status of observers, and a further large growth in the organisation's membership.

Crown Prince Jonathan stood for re-election to the offices of Prime Minister and Representative of Wrythe in the 23 December 2011 General and Local Elections. Although re-elected Prime Minister by 75% of the vote, he lost his seat as Representative of Wrythe to his sister the then Princess Caroline, probably due to having admitted a few days previously that the Fall of Wrythe had been orchestrated and there was no real threat of invasion when he surrendered the capital. As Prime Minister, he appointed himself Austenasian Consul alongside Declan I for 2012.

The Crown Prince visitedSalisbury on 24 March 2012, meeting Declan I for the first time since their meeting in Basingstoke a year and a half earlier. The opportunity was taken for Declan I to affix his physical signature to several Acts of Parliament, Imperial Decrees, and Imperial Edicts in his capacity as Emperor of Austenasia, and to give Jonathan a tour of the historic city.

Crown Prince Jonathan was elected to a second non-consecutive term as GUM Chairman on 13 June later that year. This too was considered a greatly successful term, with Jonathan chairing the first physically held in-person Quorum session on 15 July 2012 in London, and chairing and helping to organise the 24 Hour Quorum held a month later which raised over £80 for various charities. The Crown Prince also oversaw a regulation of the Official Diplomatic Staff and the creation of an online application form for non-members before his term ended in September.

The Crown Prince was appointed Prince of Domanglia (as Prince Darkomere of the House of Kaiser (the House of Kaiser being the Domanglian name for the House of Austen)) by a group of Domanglian oligarchs as a part of Domanglia's transition from the Over-Lorrokha Republic to the Princely Union of Saint Edward and Domanglia on 21 November 2012. This was intended to be a Theodorist state, but chronic inactivity amongst the members of the Domanglian legislature (Landtag) prevented any reforms being carried out, with its members not voting on a single piece of legislation or business proposed by the Prince. Founder of Domanglia, Urokah Doshevik, stated a few weeks later that he had changed his mind about wanting to implement Theodorism, and (after legislators made a formal request for his abdication) the Prince abdicated on 12 December, leaving the throne to Urokah.

Reign as Emperor

On 20 January 2013, Declan I announced his abdication from the Throne of Austenasia, stating that he was abdicating for "personal reasons" as his life had been "going in a different direction for some time". Jonathan did not refuse the Throne as he had when Terry I abdicated, instead ascending to the Austenasian Throne as His Imperial Majesty Emperor Jonathan I.

The Empire also saw a deterioration and then cutting of ties with the United Kingdom of New Wessex, the successor state to Wilcsland ruled by Declan I. This was due mainly to a breakdown in personal relations between the Emperor and Declan I which had begun a few months before the abdication from Austenasia of the latter, finalised by the Liberation of Orly. Jonathan I relinquished his Wessaxon citizenship and titles on 12 July 2013, and ended all ties between Austenasia and New Wessex other than official mutual recognition over the course of the following month - even this was withdrawn in early May the following year.

On 19 November 2013, Jonathan I was re-elected Representative of Wrythe in the November 2013 Austenasian elections, and re-appointed himself Chancellor and Secretary-General. Countess Eritoshi, the then Prime Minister, appointed herself and the Emperor the consuls for 2014 on 1 January.

2014 and 2015 saw a continued expansion of the Empire under the reign of Jonathan I, with the town of Harenfall and the territories of Beith Craobh Iostan and Glencoe being annexed together with several crown dependencies, Emperorsland expanding to become the town of Lichtenstein, and East Wrythe being annexed as an exclave of the capital. The Codex Jonathanus - a monumental civil code made over the course of more than a year by the Emperor abridging and slightly amending the Codex Justinianus - entered into force on 19 August, hailed by many as a great achievement by the Emperor. He became the longest-reigning Austenasian Monarch, beating the record of his predecessor, on 22 February 2015.

At the start of 2016, Jonathan I called a trial in the Imperial Court to examine the legality of his actions against Esmond III during December 2010 and January 2011. The Imperial Majesty vs. HIM Emperor Jonathan I took place began on 13 January 2016, with Adam I of Überstadt defending the then Crown Prince's actions and Sir Sebastian Linden arguing that they were illegal. The trial ended on 19 January, with the Emperor being found guilty of two counts of high treason and one count of treason. On 26 January, the consuls issued a sentence of six weeks of exile. Due to the sacrosanctity and inviolability of the Monarch, said sentence could not legally be enforced - indeed, the trial itself could only be legally called at the Emperor's request - but the Emperor nevertheless announced that he would undertake it voluntarily in penance for his actions against Esmond III, and so served fortnights of exile at the Austenasian Embassy to the UK and at Chester throughout the first third of 2016.

Personal life

Jonathan I is a practising Christian. Although his immediate family (and his relatives on his mother's side) are Methodist, in May 2011 the Crown Prince converted to the Orthodox Church, being chrismated (confirmed) into the Church on 24 July later that year and keeping Jonathan as his baptismal name. Asked about his reasons for leaving Methodism and becoming an Orthodox Christian, the Emperor has stated that he finds the latter to be far more compatible with the beliefs and practices of early Christianity.

The Emperor gave the title Princess Consort to his unmarried partner Hannah on 21 November 2015, with whom he started a romantic relationship on 5 November. The two of them founded the Principality of Wildflower Meadows together on 12 May the following year, and on 5 September became engaged to be married.

Filmography

Jonathan I is an amateur actor, having performed in person in films and plays, and as a voice actor. He has also written several scripts, most notably those for Cool Barbie, as well as plays for an annual summer holiday children's club held at Carshalton Methodist Church.

From 20 September 2008 to 14 February 2009 a lack of legislation regarding the styles of members of the Imperial Family meant that titles and honours accumulated onto an imperial's style. As a result, during this period the now Emperor's formal title grew extremely long, although he was still referred to in common usage simply as "Crown Prince Jonathan" during this time.

Jonathan I no longer holds any Austenasian honours. The Monarch is Sovereign of the four senior Orders of Chivalry in Austenasia, meaning that Jonathan I had his Austenasian knighthoods replaced by the sovereignty of the respective orders when he ascended to the Throne. The same applies for his Warrior Cross, the Monarch being the "fount of honour", but his other medals were themselves abolished (civilian medals having being abolished in September 2010) before he became Monarch.

Arms

As Heir to the Throne, Jonathan's arms were the Imperial Standard of Austenasia differenced with a label of three points argent, the first and third points having a laurel wreath as brisures, and the second point having a Chi-Ro as a brisure. As Monarch, he now bears the Imperial Standard undifferenced. He furthermore has separate arms for use in his capacity as Shahanshah of the Carshalton Nations and as Count of Greater Wrythe, but these are rarely used, and even then never not alongside the Imperial Standard.

On 30 November 2015, Jonathan I adopted an Imperial Cipher, for use as a personal emblem for situations in which the Imperial Standard would be inappropriate, e.g. as a seal for signing documents. The cipher is based on that of the late medieval Roman Palaiologos dynasty.

Arms as Crown Prince, adopted in July 2011.

The Imperial Standard of Austenasia.

Coat of arms of the Shahanshah of the Carshalton Nations, adopted June 2014.